Philippine Military Academy Commandant of Cadets, General Romeo Brawner Jr.
BAGUIO CITY-- Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Commandant of Cadets, Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. on Friday assured the public that the academy will be better and that the soldiers they will produce will be with a heart as reforms are instituted in the country’s top military institution.
“The goal is to produce warriors with a heart and soul as the academy transforms to a better PMA,” Brawner told Baguio media during a meet and greet at the Philippine Information Agency Cordillera regional office.
Brawner said there are short term and long terms reforms instituted at the PMA to address several issues and to come up with a change in the military institution.
A major revamp in officials and the system happened in the recent days following the death of cadent fourth class Darwin Dormitorio due to series of “maltreatment” by upper-classmen.
Upon assumption in the office on Sept. 27, Brawner declared war against hazing which turned out as the general sentiment of the cadets to have a genuine change.
“Wala naman may gusto na may mamatay na kadete (Nobody wants any cadet to die),” he said.
PMA reforms
Some of the short term reforms include the integration of cadets from all levels in one room from the previous system where same year levels stay in one room; adding more tactical officers for each company to make it four each from the previous one or two.
A tactical officer serves as a mentor and gives punishment for cadets’ misdemeanors. They directly handle the cadets and maintain sleeping quarters within the barracks of the cadets to assure that they have direct management over the cadet corps.
Other reforms are the installation of more Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras in “critical” areas and the psycho-social intervention where the first-year cadets are given stress and trauma management while the upperclassmen are provided with anger management.
Brawner said there are also long term reforms, which are in the pipeline and will be put in place as an institutional change, which include enhancing the honor system, empowering the fourth class cadets, and instituting a cadet leadership development system.
He said they recognize that PMA has a problem but they do not tolerate it.
“Marami nang na-discharge sa PMA dahil sa hazing. Hindi pinapalampas ng PMA yan (Many have been discharged because of hazing. PMA won't tolerate that) but it is a societal problem that we will surely rid in the academy,” he said.
Maltreatment is not a system but an attitude
Brawner said while it is true that hazing happens, it is not the only way to train a cadet to become tough and ready for battle.
“I was hazed but I did not haze my underclassmen,” he said.
He said the role of the families plays an important factor in ridding the academy of the practice.
Asked what made him a good man, Brawner said: “I guess it was how my parents reared me."
Brawner said there are 11 of them in the family who graduated at PMA --four uncles who belong to the 1960s classes, five cousins and two nephews.
Brawner is the son of former Court of Appeals Presiding Justice Romeo Brawner Sr. and former University of the Philippines professor, Dr. Leonora Fe Brawner.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1083595
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